1989 Porsche 928 - 928 S4

German-delivered

Extensive service history

Attractive all-black colour scheme

With the consignor for over 15 years

When Porsche unveiled the 928 in Geneva in March 1977, its mission was ambitious to say the least: it was supposed to replace the 911. What sounds like a rather audacious plan today was meant quite seriously in Zuffenhausen. The motoring press paid little attention to this family struggle for the throne and instead crowned the technically advanced Gran Turismo “Car of the Year 1978” – to this day the only sports car ever to receive the accolade.

Thankfully, the fratricide never happened. The 911 simply carried on, while the 928 built a career all of its own. Transaxle layout, V8 up front, gearbox at the rear, Weissach rear axle and a body that looked as though it had just returned from the future. While people north of the Alps were still debating its looks, Italian journalists had already voted the 928 the most beautiful car of 1977. The Italians, after all.

The S4 arrived in 1987 and brought the 928 remarkably close to its final form. Smoother bumpers, revised lights and an aerodynamically tidied rear end modernised the shape without robbing it of its individuality. More important was what happened up front: the five-litre V8, now with four valves per cylinder, produced 320 bhp. That meant more than 270 km/h – at a time when 200 was already considered pretty brisk. The GT and GTS followed the S4 before production finally ended in 1995. The 928 had not replaced the 911. Instead, it had achieved something far more interesting: it had remained unmistakably itself.

This Porsche 928 S4, finished entirely in black (L700/UN), was delivered in January 1989 to a company in the Offenbach district of Germany. It had been ordered with the following options: heated left seat (139), 40% limited-slip differential (220), automatic transmission (249), rear model designation (302), heated right seat (340), electrically adjustable sports seat on the left (383), sports shock absorbers (474), tinted windscreen (567) and electric sunroof (650).

The original service book records regular maintenance up to 130,000 kilometres. Today, the odometer shows just over 151,000. In 2010, the consignor brought the Porsche to Salzburg but did not register it, as he only drove it occasionally, albeit regularly. Invoices from 2021 and 2022 document a more extensive service, including the replacement of all belts and rollers.

At present, however, the fuel pump is refusing to cooperate, which means the 320 horses must remain in the stable for the time being. A few straightforward jobs should be all it takes to let them loose again. And to top it all off, the Porsche also comes with a set of original wheels.